The Committee on Place for holding the next Congress reported that they had selected Kansas City for September, 1901, and that Philadelphia had made a bold fight for it. It was voted by the Congress to accept the report of the committee, and made it unanimous.
A resolution was passed, as a matter of testimonial of past duties to Mr. Z. R. Brockway, who had resigned the charge of Elmira Reformatory, N. Y.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, A. M.—CHAPLAINS’ MEETING.
Beside routine work, reference was made to Dr. McKim’s book. Chaplain Batt spoke of the “Exaggerated value set upon human life,” page 185. “Plans innumerable devised but all fail,” “and that literature of the Congress is not such as is desirable for the betterment of the prisoners, so that it rests mostly with the chaplains.”
J. WARREN MEADE, WARDEN AUBURN STATE PRISON, N. Y.,
Spoke of prison discipline. Best way to reach a man’s heart was through his stomach. That it was very necessary to give attention to the appointment of the officers, in order to impress the men with a care and cleanliness. The criminal should have a time to sing if he chose, and should be assisted in fitting himself for life-work in the world.
The dungeon cells are sufficient punishment for any infraction without resorting to a paddle. Said he could not imagine how Massachusetts could have a fixed commutation for life sentences, except they use the Life Ins. Co.‘s approximate longevity table, like age 34 to serve 25 years, age 40 to serve 16 years, and so on. Good discipline has the effect to remove criminal desires.
Both T. E. Ellison, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Gen. R. Brinkerhoff, of Ohio, remarked that the wardens and superintendents summoned daily the overseers, guards, etc., to discuss the wants, needs, and peculiarities of convicts, in order to be in touch of all his employees, and to the prisoners by the overseers.
MEMORIAL TRIBUTE
Was recorded on the death of Michael J. Cassidy, Phila., Pa.; Joseph Nicholson, Detroit, Mich.; Mr. Yale, California, members of the Association.